My main creative project right now is producing an event called Exquisite Corpse Theatre: a party/game/performance where the audience writes a play and then we perform it live.

Like the play the poster is a blind collaboration a la Exquisite Corpse. Neither artist sees the other's work, they have a few constraints, and only know half the title. And then something this amazing this comes together! The play is like that, too, it's unpredictable and a ton of fun.

The event has some remnants of Surrealism (inventors of the cadavre exquis form) and much Cacophony (the jokers who came up with this theatrical application). I have a cast of incredible comedians and improvisers who are ready to go with whatever the audience throws them. Each show we choose a genre that's fun and everyone is familiar with. The first time it was Film Noir and the last 2 have been Science Fiction.

We opened our small museum and bookstore here in Fort Mason in 02006 to show some of our long-term projects. Since then, we have seen some of the best connections and conversations about long-term thinking at our receptions and gatherings.

So in collaboration with our partners here at Fort Mason, and the amazing design-build studio “Because We Can”, we have designed a salon space that will not only house our prototypes, and a hand curated library, but also serve locally roasted coffee by day, and inspired cocktails by night. The goal is to build a social place to help make long-term thinking more automatic and common rather than difficult and rare. But now, we have to raise the funds to build it.

We would like to engage you, our friends and members, along with some amazing local artisans in a campaign that is hopefully as compelling for you participate in, as it has been for us to create.

St George Spirits in Alameda has created two exclusive spirits for us. Each one is truly a distillation of long-term thinking. The first is an aromatic gin made with juniper berries harvested by hand among the five-thousand year old bristlecones from our site in eastern Nevada.

The other spirit is a whiskey with a specially tailored grain bill. It will be fermented and distilled in such a way that it'll be delicious without aging, and grow more intricate and complex with every year. We will bottle a small amount, each year for the next 15 years, allowing you to taste its annual progression.

Each of these spirits will be kept at our space for you in the Japanese “Bottle Keep” tradition. They are stored on permanent display in a custom vessel by Adams & Chittenden. When you arrive the bartender will lower your bottle for you to enjoy it straight, or mixed in a cocktail of your choice. We are offering two levels for you to participate, the Founders Bottle, and the 15 year Whiskey Club.

But to be clear, this space is about more than just coffee and cocktails. The goal is to build a social place to help make long-term thinking more automatic and common rather than difficult and rare. We are excited about bringing you all together in a new space, and a new conversation. Please join us and help us build it.

We do realize not everyone can afford to help us at these donation levels. If you can’t afford to donate at these levels, but would like to participate, we encourage you do so as a group of friends. We are happy to list several people as owners of any bottle club membership.

Work-wise I'm consulting on advertising UX, social media marketing and optimization, strategic site design, and other in-demand expertises. See my LinkedIn page for more. I'm in the market for the next full-time step in my career, too. So get in touch if you know something that seems a good fit. I want to work on a truly great product with really smart people. I'm happy to play any number of roles from marketing to product or project management to writing and strategy. Or a little bit of all of those.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Yeah, I'm calling it quits on my weekly radio show for now. Busy with other things which have to take priority. While I love it, it takes up a lot of time to do it right.

I love radio. It has been fantastic to be back at it for the last year and a half. And I'm proud of all these podcasts (which you will continue to be able to listen to if you like).

So how to say goodbye and sign off for the foreseeable future on curating my favorite art form every week? Well cutting out a 6-hour slot, for starters. I'll start 2 hours earlier than usual, at 8pm, and I will go until 2am. That's a full 1/4 of a day that I will be playing music. I can't wait, and I hope you'll tune in for a little bit at least. Don't worry, we'll record and podcast it as well. But it will be special live. I'm working a lot to prepare for it. Tune in tonight at 8pm or any time until 2am on RadioValencia.fm

It's not a sprint, it's a marathon. But that doesn't mean there won't be 20+ songs shorter than 2 minutes to try to maximize the time. I'll also feature about an hour of my favorite cover songs of all time, including a bunch that should surprise you. I also have a special set planned of songs that you'll hear on Radio Valencia, some college radio, or other rare musical outlets that choose freedom and quality and controversy over mass product, advertising and driving in between the lines.

Here's a compilation of all photos I've shot of my music and cats to accompany Can Haz DJ these lo many months. Pretty fun (I think anyway).

Via Flickr:All the images for CanHazDJ featuring my cats (Anime & Astrophe) and the music I play on the show. Some of these images were used as "album covers" for the podcasts, which you can find here: rvpods.com/canhaz